Diane Hewitt-Johnson

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. has announced the appointment of Chief Executive Officer Diane Hewitt-Johnson to the CAPLAW Board of Directors. CAPLAW — Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. — is a nationwide organization based in Boston. Its mission is to strengthen the legal and management capacity of Community Action organizations that are working to eliminate poverty. The program provides resources and training on legal compliance, financial management and governance, as well as advice on legal issues affecting Community Action Agencies.

The application process for CAPLAW’s Board is competitive and the selection process is arduous. There was one board seat open and filling it was a six-month process. Candidates submitted applications in the spring. The selection committee narrowed down the candidate pool and select candidates were invited to participate in an interview at the annual CAPLAW conference in June. The selection committee was tasked with choosing the final candidate and making their recommendation to the full board in September.

“I am honored to be chosen to represent COI, Chautauqua County, NYS, Region II (NY, NJ, Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands) and Community Action as a whole. I am dedicated to utilizing my skills to advocate for marginalized individuals and make a difference in their lives. Being on the CAPLAW Board will provide me with the ability to strengthen the Community Action Network as a whole,” Hewitt-Johnson said. “I will be able to bring issues faced in our county, region and state to the forefront so that they can be addressed.”

CAPLAW’s board consists of 12 Community Action CEOs from across the country. To be eligible, the candidate must be in a CEO position for at least five years. Hewitt-Johnson has been at COI’s helm since 2018. She will be formally inducted at the next CAPLAW board meeting on Nov. 1.

COI has been in existence since 1965 and is the federally designated Community Action Agency in Chautauqua County. COI is tasked with providing innovative services to individuals and families to help them achieve economic security, while partnering with other agencies to ensure a comprehensive approach is taken to deliver holistic services.

Hewitt-Johnson also serves as the vice president on the board of the state Community Action Association. She began her career with the agency in 2003 as the Director of Economic Development for Chautauqua Opportunities for Development Inc. She led the Health Services division at COI for nine years before being appointed Director of Operations in early 2018. Diane served as Interim CEO for six months prior to being selected as the agency’s CEO in Feb.2019.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Houghton College and a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan College, where she also received the Distinguished Leadership Award. She completed an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Administration at Jamestown Community College. She resides in Jamestown and has owned a small business there since 2003.